Open Letter:
The time for intersectional gender pay gap reporting in Australia is now.
Dear Prime Minister, The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), The Hon Mary Wooldridge, and Australian Statistician at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), David Gruen,
Despite some progress, Australia’s persistent Gender Pay Gap continues to rob women of financial independence, safety and freedom. The effects of which compound over a lifetime.
But, you already know this.
It is also widely understood that the Gender Pay Gap data we currently collect and report on continues to paint an incomplete picture; one that fails to adequately represent how discrimination and disadvantage compounds for those with intersecting marginalised identities.
Of course, you already know this too.
So, surely we can all agree that the time for Australia to adopt an intersectional approach to its Gender Pay Gap reporting has, well and truly, come?
What We’re Calling For
As a coalition of organisations, advocates and individuals, we are calling for the urgent adoption of intersectional gender pay gap data collection and reporting, under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. We are asking that you:
Make Regulatory Change: Urgently adopt recommendations 6.1 and 7.2 from the WGEA Review Report (2021) and collect—at a minimum—data sets relating to age, ethnicity, disability, First Nations status, and sexual orientation, alongside a broader definition of gender beyond the binary.
Protect Data Privacy: Ensure personal information is handled safely and stored securely, with clear explanations as to why data is being collected, how it will be used, and the benefits of reporting. In particular, we wish to echo and amplify the calls for First Nations data sovereignty, as outlined in the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Change Agenda for First Nations Gender Justice.
Provide Further Support and Training: Help organisations collect and report this data accurately, so we can see the true extent of intersectional pay gaps and create more targeted interventions. This must involve adequate and meaningful consultation with peak bodies and people with relevant lived experience.
The Time Is Now
Without intersectional data, we cannot hope to fully understand, or address, the barriers preventing meaningful equity and inclusion. And as long as the true extent of pay disparities remain hidden, so too will the solutions.
It’s time to recognise intersectional pay gap reporting for what it is: the essential foundation upon which our combined efforts to close the pay gap must rest. A ‘must-have’, not a ‘nice to have’. Otherwise, we run the risk of delivering ‘shallow progress’ that unintentionally perpetuates, and further entrenches, the very inequities we are seeking to dismantle.
We are not the first to call for this change, but we hope we will be the last. Until then, we proudly add our voices to those who have come before us.
We look forward to your response, but more importantly—your action.
Become a co-signatory here:
Signed:
Chandel Rose - Co-founder, Ladies Talk Money
Carmen Hawker - Founder, CARMEN GET IT!
Jessica Brady - Co-founder, Ladies Talk Money
Min-Shi Michelle Lim - Organisational Culture Specialist and DE&I Advocate
Larisha Jerome - proud Jarowair, Wakka Wakka & Wulli Wulli woman, Founder of Liberate with Larisha and Economic Justice Advocate
Prof. Nareen Young - Gadigal descendant and Associate Dean, UTS Jumbunna/UTS Business School
Associate Prof. Dimitria G. Groutsis - University of Sydney Business School, Academic Director, Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Program
Tasneem Chopra OAM - Cross Cultural Consultant
Div Pillay - CEO, MindTribes & Co-Founder Culturally Diverse Women
Mary Crooks AO - Executive Director, Victorian Women's Trust
Chris Harding - Engagement and Philanthropy Manager, Djirra
Senator Larissa Waters - Greens Senator for Queensland
Nicole Yade - CEO, Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC)
Mundanara Bayles - Director, BlackCard
Clint Curtis - Digital Creator, BlackCard
Jade Blakkarly - CEO, WIRE
Dr Emma Fulu - Founder & Director, The Equality Institute
Mariam Mohammed - Co-founder, MoneyGirl, Host of The Great Tangent podcast
Melissa Ma - Co-founder, MoneyGirl
Gemma Saunders - Founder, Workplace Edit
Christina Hobbs - Co-founder, Verve Super
Erin Morris - Managing Director, Young Folks
Phoebe Saintilan - Founder, Missing Perspectives
Jen Branscombe - Director, GenderWorks Australia
Kathy Oliver - Director, GenderWorks Australia
Sonali Hedditch - PhD on Intersectionality, The University of Queensland
Leigh Dunlop - Purpose-led Workplace Policy Leader and Advocate
Azra Nurkic - Company Coordinator, Pure Finance
Brendan Dixon - Managing Director, Pure Finance
Michael Bradley - Managing Partner, Marque Lawyers
Frances Goh - Head of Community & Growth, One Roof
Emma Bowdler - Founder and Director, The Women’s Accountant
Lauren Ryan - Co-founder and CEO, The Global Women’s Project
Natalie Yan-Chatonsky - CEO, Full Time Lives
Mabel Abatania - Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Consultant, MABATAN Consulting
Nidhi Kalaiya - Founder, Zuka
Dr Varina Michaels - Executive Director, Women of Colour Australia
Brenda Gaddi - Founder and Executive Director, Women of Colour Australia
Red Dearnley - Managing Director, Influence Global
Nikki Tugano - Founder & CEO, SeenCulture
Niti Nadarajah - Founder, Coach & DEI Consultant, Coaching by Niti
Micaela Drieberg - Chief Executive Officer, Gender Equity Victoria
Natalie Flynn - Founder, equidi
Rebecca Glenn - CEO, Centre for Women's Economic Safety
Bec Blurton - Director, First Nations Affairs
Kit McMahon - CEO, Women's Health in the South East
Violet Roumeliotis - CEO, Settlement Services International
Jack Toohey - Content Creator + Writer
Samantha Owen - Director, Gender Equity & Inclusion, Curtin University
Kristine Ziwica - Journalist
Linda Ryle - Kamilaroi /Birrigubba, CALM - Cultural Advocacy & Legal Me
Angela Priestley - Co-founder, Women’s Agenda
Tarla Lambert - Editor in Chief and Co-founder, Women’s Agenda
Natasha Kaiser - Founder, Wurrumay Collective
Sheetal Deo - Lawyer, Advocate, DEI practitioner, Shakti Legal Solutions
Holley Skene - CEO, SHINE SA
Varo Lee - Board Chair, SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance (SARAA)
Dr Emma Rae - DEI Consultant, Emma Rae Consulting
Jo Kowalczyk - CEO, Women in Super
Sally Hasler - CEO, Women's Health Victoria
Monika Sarder - Senior Data Analyst, Women’s Health Victoria
Elena Rosenman - CEO, Women’s Legal Centre ACT
Caitlin Figueiredo - Board Director, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
Jane Caro AM - Speaker, Writer, Advocate
Kym Chapple - Randwick City Greens Councillor
Mandy Nicholson - Wurundjeri, Djaara, Ngurai illum wurrung - Djirri Djirri Cultural Services
Tatum Moore - Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Barkindji-Gurnu, Kunja
Careers in Colour
Vineti Anand - Co-founder, Australian Professionals Of Colour
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Ally Oliver-Perham - Communications Manager, Victorian Women's Trust
Faith Limantono - Marketing Lead, One Roof
Brook McCarthy - Founder and Business Mentor, Hustle & Heart
Emma Fitzgerald - Barrister at law
Line Paras - Boss Lady, Counting Clouds
Elana Robertson - Managing Director, foundher.
Lauren Shuttleworth - Founder, Words With Heart
Michelle Hawker - Supporter
Ben Grisold - Graphic Designer
Taylah Fuchshofer - Account Director, Young Folks
Sanam Goodman - Content Specialist, Young Folks
Anita Coelho - Financial Course Consultant
Jayde Jenkins - Founder, Bloom Financial Planning
Darin Skinner - Chief Operating Officer, Ensombl
Jenny Rolfe-Wallace - Financial Education Consultant, It's Not About The Money
Shane Crow - Director, The Neighbourhood Salon
Kyle Nawrocki - Director, The Neighbourhood Salon
Lacey Filipich - Founder and Director, Money School
Daniel Armstrong - Supporter
Xiao Kan Huang - Director, Level: Asian Podcast
Anjani Gregoriou - Supporter, Anjani Amriit
Faith Agugu - CEO & Founder, Silver Sirens
Alexei Dawes - Cognitive Neuroscientist
Koon Lai - Coach, SKL
Lai Heng Foong - Emergency Medicine Specialist
Gloria Yuen - Director, AAPC
Marjorie Tenchavez - Founder & Director, Welcome Merchant
Kane Jackson - Founder, Maslow
Victoria Butt - CEO, Parity Consulting
Charlie Webber - Loan Adviser, Pure Finance
Charity Mosienyane - Supporter
Fern Seto - Supporter
Christine Yeung - CEO and Founder, Weaver
Samantha Sutherland - DE&I Advocate and Gender Equity Specialist
Jessica Greenland - Director, Mkt. Communications
Skye Tipler - Director, Mkt. Communications
Erin Roy - Client Services & Strategy Director, Mkt. Communications
Jiri Vrba - Project Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Medicine
Sanduni De Silva - Supporter
Amy Boyce - Director, ABC PR
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Pearl Tang - Supporter
Manus Chauhan - Supporter
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Harita Sridhar - Lawyer
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Samantha Robinson - Supporter
Natasha Akib - Director, Digital Storytellers
Michelle Redfern - DEI & Workplace Gender Equality Advisor, Advancing Women in Business and Sport
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Brian Cobb - Top Dog, Raver Dogs
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Kiyoung Sung - Founder, ReMI
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Craig Dunn - Supporter
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Senthan Sanchayan - Creative Director
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Erin Zeitsch - Operations Manager
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Jena Jaensch - Founder, Six Degrees of Punctuation
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Arti Agrawal - CEO, Vividhata
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Roman Ruzbacky - Principal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant, Roman Ruzbacky & Associates
Charlotte Lerpiniere - Founder, Brandid Media
Ines Schuber - Customer support
Therese Nolan - National Co-Convenor, Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE)
Leon Powell - Creative Services Manager, The Equality Institute
Julia van Graas - Co-founder, Leaders on Demand
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Rachel Patterson - Supporter
Jessie Yu - DEI Advisor
Gemma MacDonald - DKO Architecture
Amy Springhall - Founder, The Visibility Project
Elaine Butler - Supporter
Jadie Hunter - Supporter
Libby Clinton - Women's Safety and Gender Equity Project Coordinator, Settlement Services International
Caroline Crunden - Director of Operations, Nutrip
Danielle McKeown - Supporter
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Alex H - Supporter
Malia Dewse - Director, Beyond the Will
Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur - Supporter
Marolin S - Supporter
Jessica Atkins - Supporter
Laura McConnell Conti - Founder, #GoKindly
Hannah Brennan - CEO & Co-founder, Scarf Community Organisation
Yee Man Louie - Supporter
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Ashleigh Bruders - Director, Speckle Digital
Jessica Wong-Saunderson - Supporter
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Trish Gregory - Financial Adviser, Fox & Hare
Amy C - Supporter
Desiree Bensley - Supporter
Trudy Heins - Supporter
Claire Harris - Co-Founder & Strategic Director, Human Quotient Group
Betsy Westcott - Financial Coach, Consultant & Commentator, Inner Money Journey
Karen Mclaughlan - Supporter
Jillian Aylett Brown - Supporter
Amber Bonney - Founder and Head of Strategy, The Edison Agency
Jessy Geer - General Manager Talent and Culture
Pascale Petit - Supporter
Matilda Parker - People & Culture Coordinator
Anie Kandya - Social Media Producer
Lambrina Gimian - Peer Support Worker
Miriam Fine - Communications Consultant
Natasha Christian - Copywriter
Jackie Chan - Supporter
Anashree Dahl - Director, Dahl & Co
Darshana Parekh - Lawyer & DEI Consultant
Olivia Thomas - Specialist FV prac
Zee Schorsch - Inclusion Coordinator
Emma Stephens - Finance Broker
Victor Sojo - Supporter
Allanah Maruff - Supporter
Jill Kitch - Business Manager
Silika Baselala - Founder, Ebony Bolts
Jess Ivers - Supporter
Natalie Dean-Weymark - Founder, Compass Studio
Maquel Brandimarti - Project Officer, Supporter
Sarah Gallo - Supporter
Amy Hauber - Founder, LOESS
Nick Morley - Founder, LOESS
Judit Brown - Supporter
Kisharni Eggleton - Supporter
Caroline Carson - Origin Consulting, Supporter
Mary Beth O Brien - Supporter
Natalie Wong - Chief People and Culture Officer, Allied Credit
Justene Sharp - RN, Supporter
Rachael Imam - Communications Officer, Victorian Women's Trust
Katie McDermott - Founder, See Me Please
Fiona Herron - Supporter
Mohana Ryan - Program Manager
Leilani Brown - Senior Paraplanner
Safeera Hussainy - Supporter
Christine Garbett - Supporter
Tahli Cavagnino - Financial Advisor
Jacqueline Robson - Supporter
Rani Fairbairn - Supporter
Logan Balavijendran - Supporter
Yee Man Louie - Independent Researcher
Emma Jones - Founder & CEO, Project F and T-EDI Standards
Vimala Thangaveloo - Founder, Mosaic Working
Ava Wansbrough - Supporter
Denise Spencer - Supporter
Josephine Hutchinson - Senior Digital Advisor, VIDA
Ilana Light - Supporter
Bronwyn Hughes - Supporter
Sarah-Jane Hart - Supporter
Julie McCormack - Consultant, Health and Education
Barbra Norris - Supporter
Amber Summerfield - Supporter
Helen Threlfall - Supporter
Diana Langmead - Education Researcher, Dr.
Liz Buckley - Supporter
Erin Ellison - Health & Disability Advocate
Amelia Easdale - Fundraising & Development Manager
Sarah Vanderschoot - Copywriter
Mohana Ryan - Supporter
Noha Ahmed - Founder/Principal, NSA Communications
Stacey Star - Supporter
Lisa Sorgini - Supporter
Erin Ellison - Health and disability advocate
Sarah Strzelecki - Supporter
Adele James - Woman, Worker, Wife, Mother, Student
Alva Geikie - Women's Liberation Advocate
Krithika Gururaj - Supporter
Co-supported by:
CAMPAIGN IMAGE CREDIT: EMMA RAHMANI